'Hey Bartender' Debuts Nov. 15 During Napa Valley Film Fest

Napa Valley may be a wine paradise, but there’s still plenty of room at the bar for a few great cocktails.

At least, that's the premise of "Hey Bartender," one of 125 films included in next week's Napa Valley Film Festival, Nov. 13-17.

The festival's interactive program guide launches today at napavalleyfilmfest.org. In the program guide, films are listed alphabetically by name, and also can be found by searching categories, venues and even towns.

Venues for the festival range from Uptown Theatre Napa to the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater in Yountville to the Cameo Theater in St. Helena, to the Gliderport at Indian Springs in Calistoga.

Although the festival officially starts Wednesday, Nov. 13, Yountville will have a locals' kickoff reception at 5 p.m. Nov. 12 (with a screening of the documentary "Red Obsession").

Also, the Lincoln Theater in Yountville will have a Veteran's Day show on Monday, Nov. 11, including six military-themed movies (free for veterans).

Other notable events include:
--Two screenings at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, of "August: Osage County" with Meryl Streep at the Napa Valley Opera House, Napa;
-- the Festival Gala with live music and dancing at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the former Copia Center, 500 First St. in Napa;
-- a Celebrity Tributes show at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 -- hosted by NBC-TV's "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush;
-- and the "New Power Lunch" at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Cadillac Theater in Napa with MORE Magazine and the film "Sewing Hope."

Closing the festival on Sunday, Nov. 17 is an awards ceremony at the Uptown Theatre Napa hosted by NBC-TV news anchor Raj Mathai at 8 p.m.

Earlier on Sunday, the Uptown will also air two films: "Sound City" and "Good Ol' Freda," two music-related movies ("Good Ol' Freda" is the first public airing of the story of the Beatles' long-time office manager and secretary).

Meanwhile, The film "Hey Bartender" is the story of the rebirth of the bartender and the comeback of the custom cocktail. Cameo Cinema in St. Helena will air the film at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.

"Hey Bartender" traces the history of the mixed drink over the ages: the film takes us inside the modern world of the mixologist with its locally sourced ingredients, hand-cut ice cubes and exotic names.

The film also follows a pair of bartenders as they try to achieve their dreams of fame, fortune and glory.

One, an injured Marine, sets his sights on becoming a principal bartender at the best cocktail bar in the world after leaving the service. Another, a young man who left his white-collar job to buy the corner bar in his hometown, struggles to keep afloat several years later.
 
The film is directed by Doug Triola and features Tony Abou-Ganim, Eric Alperin, Jeff Bell, John Besh, Jason Bran